Facts about County Clare

Clare is bounded on the north by Galway Bay and Galway county, and on the east and south by the River Shannon. The Atlantic Ocean lies to the west. At its western edge lie the Cliffs of Moher.

It is a county of great biological and geological richness. The Burren in the north is an extraordinary region of limestone rock, with an immense variety of flora and a series of underground caves.

Land in Co. Clare

Population ¹ : Density

110,950 32.16 person / km²

Size ² :

3,450 km² (345,004 ha) 4.12% of the land in Ireland *

Farmland ² :

2,105 km² (210,477 ha) 2.51% of the land in Ireland *

Coastline ³ :

366 km 5.78% of the Coastline of Ireland *

soft coast:

184 km 2.91% of the Coastline of Ireland *

at risk:

53 km 0.84% of the Coastline of Ireland *

Protected Land * :

There are 13 natural heritage areas, 37 SACs, 11 SPAs, 4 nature reserves, and the Burren National Park run by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, 1 Ramsar site, 34 Natura 2000 sites, and several Wildfowl Sanctuaries. The Cliffs of Moher are a designated Refuge for Fauna.

Spear Thistle

Cirsium vulgare

by Onenn

Wildlife in Co. Clare

Special Wildlife *:

The Burren region supports Arctic, Mediterranean and alpine plants side-by-side, as well as many rare Irish species, a diversity made possible by its unusual environment. It is home to the pearl-bordered fritillary butterfly, which is only found in this region, and the brown hairstreak. The Cliffs of Moher are home to the largest colony of puffins on the island.